Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-08-26

address behind m, so for three blessed
weeks might roam an undisputed lord of
myself. Three weeks We're not very many
TO take out of the fifty-two, hut they were
all | could venture 10 give myself; for even
al that time my practice. If not so lucrative
as | could wish, was a large aud increasing
one. Having done a twelye-montn's harl
work, felt that no one in the kingdom
could take his holiday with a conscience
clearer than mine so ! lay back in a pc
cularly Coltentel frame Of mind, and dis
counted tn coming pleasures Of my brief
respite from labor
There are many way, of passing a holiday
many places at which II may be spent,
hut. after ell, II you wish 20 thoroughly en-
JOY it, there is but one royal rule 10 be fol-
lowed. That is. simply to please yourself
go where you like and mount the innocent
holiday hobby which is dearest TO your
heart, let its name be botany, geology, en-
tomology, couchologv, vcnery, piscation, or
what not. Then YOU shall be happy, and
return well braced up for the battle OF life.
/ know a city clerk with literary tastes who
Invariably spent his annual fortnight among
the musticst tones of the British museum,
and ayerred that his health was more bene-
fitted 10y 50 doing tIau II be had passed tho
time lAhaling the freshest sea brcezes. |
dare say h. was right in his assertion
Sketchnghas always benny favorite holt
day pursuit. Poor as my drawings may be,
nevertheless, as l turn them over in nv port
fol o, they bring, % me at least, vivid re-
membranes of many sweet and picturesque
spots, happy days, ami congeuial compan-
ion. Il Is no. for me 10 say anything OF
their actual merits, but they are dear to ms
for their associations.
This particular year | went to North Wales
and made Bettws Y Coed my headquarters
] STAYED at the Royal Oak, that well-known
little inn, dear 10 many an artists heart, and
teeming with "reminiscences If famous men
who have soiOurucd there times without
number 1t was here / made the acquaint-
ance of the man with whose life the curious
events ! am going 90 narrate are connected.
On the first day after my arrival at
Bettws my appreciation of my liberty was
SO thorough. my appetite FOR the enjoyment
Of the beauties Of nature SO keen and insa-
table, tha, | went so far and saw SO much,
that wnen ! returned 10 the Royal Oak night
had fallen and the hour Of dinner had long
passed by. / was, when my own meal was
placed on the table, the only occupant of tho
coffee-room. just then young man entered
and ordered something TO eat The waiter
knowing, no doubt, something Of the frank
camaradcrie which exists, or should exist,
between the followers Of Nelpomenc, laid his
cover at my table The newcomer seated
himself gave me pleasant smile and n nod,
and in five minutes We were IN full swing Of
conve rsation.
The moment my eyes fell upon the young
man had noticed how singularly handsoms
be was. Charles Cariiston-for this / found
afterward to DC his name-was about -
years Of AGE. lie was tall, but slightly
built, his whole bearing and figure being
remarkably elegant and graceful lie looked
even more than gentlemanly-he looaed dis
tinguishcd. His face was pale, It's features
well cut. straight and regular. His fore
head spoke Of high intellectual qualities, and
there was somewhat OF that development
over he eyebrows which phrenologsts, be-
heve, consider as evidence of the possession
Of Imagination. The general expression Of
his face was one Of seriousness. II not sad